Brilliant Bears beat Pirates!
REDCAR signed off at the ECCO Arena in 2025 with a thrilling 46-44 win over the Poole Pirates in the BSN Series Final 1st leg. Both captains top scored for their respective sides as Charles Wright hit paid 13 for the Bears whilst Zach Cook struck 11 for the Pirates.
The “Agilia” Bears began in scintillating fashion with a 5-1 as Jake Mulford led comfortably from the gate, and with Wright shrugging off the attentions of Richard Lawson, the ECCO Arena went wild after heat one.
The treble chasing Pirates hit back in the reserves race as Will Cairns passed Jody Scott for the win, and with Paul Starke 3rd, Poole halved the early deficit. Heat three saw the Poole engine room turn the tables on their hosts as Cook won, and with Lewi Kerr 2nd, suddenly the Pirates had the lead on Teesside.
Heat four saw Anders Rowe open his night with a convincing win, but with Danny King and Ace Pijper packing into 2nd and 3rd, Redcar remained in touch with the league champions. Jason Edwards recovered from his 4th place in his opening race to ride an intelligent race to beat Lawson, but with Leon Flint 4th, the hosts remained behind by two points.
After a pair of shared races won by Rowe and King, the Bears hit the front with their 2nd maximum as Pijper recorded his first heat win, and with Mulford continuing his impressive night with a paid win (after initially gating and then having to pass Cairns), the “Agilia” Bears had a two point advantage.
Heat nine saw the Bears support go potty as Flint won with ease, and with Edwards comfortable in 2nd, Redcar led 30-24 at the ECCO Arena. However, Poole aren’t the league champions for nothing and they hit back in heat 10 as Kerr won, but with Wright battling past Cook, Redcar limited the damage to a 4-2 which brought the Pirates within four of Redcar.
Heat 11 saw King just about hold off the attentions of Lawson, but with Scott unable to battle past Thomsen despite his best efforts, Redcar’s lead was still sat at four points.
Heat 12 saw Starke gate, and with Kerr diving underneath Edwards on bend three of the opening lap, Poole looked set to level. However, Edwards found his way past Starke and just held the important 2nd place on the run to the line, but an away heat advantage saw the Pirates get back within two points of the Bears.
After a pair of shared races won by the potent Wright and the equally impressive Cook, we had a last heat decider on Teesside. The final race of an entertaining evening saw Wright win, but with Edwards 4th despite looking like he would pass both Pirates in the early stages, the Bears finished at home with a win, and a two point lead for Wednesday’s second leg.
Redcar Bears = 46
1. Charles Wright = 12+1
2. Jake Mulford = 6+2
3. Jason Edwards = 7+1
4. Leon Flint (G) = 5+1
5. Danny King = 8
6. Jody Scott = 4
7. Ace Pijper = 4+1
Poole Pirates = 44
1. Richard Lawson = 7+2
2. Tobias Thomsen = 2+2
3. Lewis Kerr = 9+2
4. Zach Cook = 11
5. Anders Rowe = 8
6. Paul Starke = 3
7. Will Cairns = 4